Data Security


Recent Data Security Articles

Tech Talk: Firm Uses Backup for Accountability

By Elizabeth Wasserman |  Jul 1, 2008

A Houston energy company found that a remotely managed backup solution involving storing data off site could help comply with regulations in addition to meet...  Read more

Is Security Software Choking Your System?

By Bill Pfleging |  Jul 1, 2008

Take anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, and more security applications off your office computers? Security companies are now offering unified threat manage...  Read more

Log Management: What's in Your Log Files?

By Minda Zetlin |  Jun 1, 2008

Log files are like internal surveillance cameras, recording everything that happens inside servers, network devices, and some applications. Here's how to mak...  Read more

Instituting Security Metrics

By Lora Shinn |  Jun 1, 2008

Tired of running your IT operation based on FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt)? Instituting security metrics can help provide a more logical approach to secur...  Read more

Slouching? Measure Your Security Posture

By Lora Shinn |  May 1, 2008

There is an optimal "security posture" for a business -- the approach your business takes to security, from planning to implementation, from hardware to netw...  Read more

Avoid Security Pitfalls with Subcontractors

By Mary O. Foley |  May 1, 2008

Increased reliance on outsourcing IT and data services has left businesses vulnerable if the subcontractor suffers a data breach. Ground rules can keep subco...  Read more

Is Your Business PCI Compliant?

By Minda Zetlin |  Apr 1, 2008

Nearly every business that processes credit-card payments will have to comply with payment card industry (PCI) standards, which are very specific about how d...  Read more

Is Your Network Secure -- Physically?

By Minda Zetlin |  Apr 1, 2008

Businesses spend big bucks on security software, but FBI research shows the majority of security breaches come from physical mistakes such as not having a pa...  Read more

Outsourcing Security: Are You Ready?

By Lora Shinn |  Apr 1, 2008

Outsourcing is an attractive option for businesses that would rather not deal with a 3 a.m. DNS attack or a hacker defacing the website during non-business h...  Read more

10 Steps to Database Security

By Mary O. Foley |  Apr 1, 2008

Most small and mid-sized businesses that build and administer databases focus on performance and availability. Security is usually an afterthought. Until you...  Read more

Protecting Data: The Old Fashioned Way

By Renee Oricchio |  Mar 1, 2008

Online backup isn’t for every business. And tape is a backup media of the past. Here are some options in traditional -- or file-based -- backup programs.  Read more

Pay for Storage? Weighing the Free -- and Low Cost -- Options

By Renee Oricchio |  Feb 1, 2008

Google's entrance into online storage, offering users some free storage – with more available for a fee -- increases the choices for small businesses. Here...  Read more

The Right Way to Respond to a Data Breach

By Renee Oricchio |  Dec 1, 2007

Laptops get stolen. Insiders steal data. And hackers are always trying to intrude. In many states, businesses that experience data breaches have to notify al...  Read more

Safeguard Your Biggest Asset -- Your Data

By Michelle V. Rafter |  Dec 1, 2007

A company’s data is its life blood, so why risk having it lost, stolen, or hacked into with shoddy security and privacy practices? Regular audits can help ...  Read more

Securing Your Business Laptops (And the Data Inside)

By Marc Saltzman |  Jul 1, 2007

Tips on how to secure your business laptops -- and the data that resides on them -- whether they're in the office or on the road.  Read more

Guarding Against the Threat from Within

By Mary O. Foley |  Jul 1, 2007

Most businesses have made sure to protect computer systems and networks from hackers. But the majority of data leaks or breaches of sensitive company informa...  Read more

Ask, and You Shall Be Misled

By David H. Freedman |  Jul 1, 2007

Customers can tell you a lot. But sometimes they don't know what they're talking about.  Read more

Computer Security: What We're Worrying About

By Inc. staff |  Mar 1, 2007

Here's what computer security threats are keeping entrepreneurs up at night, according to a survey by the research firm Forrester.  Read more

Which Anti-Virus Software Should You Use?

By Renee Oricchio |  Jan 1, 2007

A round-up of products that can help protect your company computers from viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other forms of attack.  Read more

Preventing Credit Card Fraud on Your Website

By Anne Stuart |  Jan 1, 2007

Despite e-payment options, credit cards remain the Internet’s primary currency. Here are some basic steps to keep your e-commerce site safe from credit fraud.  Read more

How Far to Trust Digital Signatures

By John Borland |  Nov 1, 2006

A law passed in 2000 makes electronic signatures as binding as written signatures.  Read more

Should You Monitor Employee E-Mail?

By Marc Saltzman |  Oct 1, 2006

Examining the legal, ethical, and business-related factors involved in reviewing the messages sent by your staff.  Read more

Tips for Developing a Workplace E-Mail Policy

By Marc Saltzman |  Oct 1, 2006

For a variety of liability and business reasons, your business needs an e-mail policy. Here are some tips on how to make it work.  Read more

Onsite vs. Off: Where Should Your Servers Be?

By Janet Rae-Dupree |  Oct 1, 2006

Considerations such as power costs, servers crashing, and security need to be considered when making the decision where to store your servers.  Read more

Telecom Tricksters: How to Avoid Slamming, Cramming and Hijacking

By Rich Martini |  Sep 1, 2006

A guide to protecting your business against unscrupulous phone company tactics.  Read more

How Often Should You Back Up Files?

By Marc Saltzman |  Sep 1, 2006

Rudimentary data protection can be a business life-saver.  Read more

The Basics: What is Encryption?

By Peter Suciu |  Sep 1, 2006

Encryption in e-mail and other digital files can protect data from prying eyes.  Read more

What are Macroviruses?

By Julia Scheeres |  Sep 1, 2006

These viruses targeted Microsoft Office applications but appeared to be beaten. Do you need to prepare for a comeback?  Read more

The Basics: What is Phishing?

By Peter Suciu |  Sep 1, 2006

They can tarnish a company's image for those businesses that are unprepared.  Read more

Data Lockdown

By Michael Fitzgerald |  Aug 1, 2006

Keeping your computer network safe.  Read more

Inc. 500 Firm Denies Wrongdoing in Lawsuit

By Angus Loten |  Mar 1, 2006

Gratis Internet faces charges of selling customer e-mail addresses to marketing agencies.  Read more

Thinking Inside the Box

By Nadine Heintz |  Jul 1, 2004

Geraldine Laybourne of the Oxygen channel has finally discovered what women want -- perhaps to her chagrin, definitely to her profit.  Read more

Data Disasters

By Anne Stuart |  May 1, 2004

Hurricanes. Floods. Tornados. Fires. Earthquakes. Explosions. Extended power outages. Disgruntled employees. Hackers. And, most recently, terrorist attack...  Read more

Maximize Your Website's ROI

By Niles Howard |  Mar 1, 2004

It was heralded as the great equalizer, the technological wonder that would put business start-ups and large corporations on the same level playing field....  Read more

What's Next: Data Disasters

By Robert X. Cringely |  Nov 1, 2003

If litigation requires you to produce every e-mail your employees have written about a given topic, could you do it? If not, you could be looking at jail tim...  Read more